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International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide |
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| EYE ON THE INDUSTRY | |||||||||||||
| NOW
IS THE TIME TO GET SERIOUS!
By Darrell Sitarz I am still very concerned that the Indoor Kart Racing (IKR) movers and shakers have not yet seen fit to form an association to regulate and safeguard their interests. The American Society of Testing & Materials (ASTM) is traditionally considered by many to be the last word when it comes to safety standards and many states use these guidelines to set their own rules and regulations. In January 2000, the ASTM passed guidelines, which for all intents and purposes, tried to pigeonhole indoor kart racing into the same classification (and subsequent rules and regulations) as “conventional” concession karting. Luckily for the indoor karting industry in the USA, the ASTM saw fit to form a separate fact finding committee to see exactly where IKR should fit and did not include IKR in the new standards. Oddly, these new guidelines were presented to the ASTM by the International Recreational Go-Kart Association (IRGA), which is made up mainly of traditional concession kart manufacturers. In my opinion that was like NASCAR trying to tell CART how to design their race cars. The IRGA wants people, including the states, to believe that “European” indoor kart racing is the exactly the same as conventional concession karting, when it is not! As it stands now, many state governments (those which govern standard concession karting) are perplexed on how to handle the new technology of IKR. Some use the ASTM guidelines for their rules while others do not. As a board member of the Illinois Carnival-Amusement Safety Commission, I do know that provisions specifically governing IKR do not yet exist, so it currently falls under existing concession karting rules. However, the Illinois board is taking a pro-active position and will continue to examine all existing rules and regulations as they relate to the new technology of indoor karting and may write IKR-specific rules if need be. Of course, the significance of an indoor association’s involvement in this process would be greatly beneficial, but alas, no such association exists, yet! And as it stands now, many insurance companies are still confused and don’t know quite how to handle indoor karting or how to classify it. Some are handling tracks on a case-by-case basis, while others flatly refuse to touch it due to a lack of clear definition or history in the States. However, this should be less of a problem as more tracks open nationwide. Again, the formation of an association that would speak with a unified voice would also help this situation as well. Over the last few years, there has been much talk around the industry about the creation an association, but very little action has ever taken place. The most positive action was an attempt by one gentlemen to use a British model indoor association for the basis for a US organization, but, for some reason, it was not well received by the manufacturers or tracks and has virtually disappeared. Whatever the case may
be, I would strongly suggest that the IKR industry recognize the need to
immediately organize a viable association that will speak with single voice,
help protect what has been built and assist in setting national standards
for this portion of the karting industry. To those involved in the indoor
kart racing business or those who are contemplating opening a track, take
heed, this is a critical situation that must be addressed sooner than later.
END
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Kart Marketing Group, Inc. Post Office Box 101 Wheaton, IL 60189 USA Telephone: 630-653-7368 Fax: 630-653-2637 Email: karting@msn.com |
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| Neatconcept, Inc | |||||||||||||
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